Achille Castiglioni, born in Milan in 1918, is best known for his economic and practical designs. He studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano University and set up a design office in 1944 with his brothers, Livio and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. Though probably known best for the futuristic Arco Lamp, designed in 1962, Castiglioni had numerous other design credits to his name. He was also the recipient of numerous design prizes throughout the course of his career, including seven Compasso d'Oro awards. Upon the designer's death in 2002, his family 'froze' the Castiglioni studio and converted it into a Museum in Milan, which is still open for visitors. The Museum of Modern Art has some of his most important designs in its permanent collection.
